Find cheap flights to Hanoi (HAN), Vietnam

If you like to experience life as the locals do when you visit a new city, few destinations in Asia are as rewarding as Hanoi. Its residents are famously outgoing and friendly, particularly to travelers from outside of Vietnam, and it’s easy to find great restaurants, bars and other spots in the city by asking the Hanoians who strike up conversations with you. Hanoi’s Old Quarter, its most historic area, is a compact neighborhood with a winding tangle of busy streets that make it fun to get lost. Grabbing a bowl of pho and a cold local beer at one of the many shack-like eateries or strolling the perimeter of the scenic Hoan Kiem Lake are simple but unforgettable experiences that make the Old Quarter popular among tourists, but there’s also great sightseeing in the neighborhood. Prominent points of interest include the Bach Ma Temple, the most famous of the Old Quarter temples, and Quan Su Pagoda, an active Buddhist temple that dates back to the 15th century. This neighborhood is also where you’ll find the most memorable and cleverly designed hotels in Hanoi.

Get up early to visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, open only in the mornings, where the revolutionary leader’s embalmed body remains on display to visitors. Nearby, don’t miss the Ho Chi Minh Museum, One Pillar Pagoda and the Museum of the Vietnamese Revolution, an enthralling and thorough series of exhibits covering the country’s conflicts with France and the United States.